Establishment of first engineering specifications for environmental modification to eliminate schistosomiasis epidemic foci in urban areas

- First establishment of an engineering specification for snail control.
- Environmental modification can change the environment of snail breeding completely.
- Snail control effect of environmental modification in this study can withstand floods.
- Environmental modification combine with mollusciciding can eliminate snails.

Snail control is a key link in schistosomiasis control, but no unified methods for eliminating snails have been produced to date. This study was conducted to explore an engineering method for eliminating Oncomelania hupensis applicable to urban areas. The engineering specifications were established using the Delphi method. An engineering project based on these specifications was conducted in Hankou marshland to eliminate snails, including the transformation of the beach surface and ditches. Molluscicide was used as a supplement. The snail control effect was evaluated by field investigation. The engineering results fulfilled the requirements of the design. The snail density decreased to 0/0.11 m2, and the snail area dropped to 0 m2 after the project. There was a statistically significant difference in the number of frames with snails before and after the project (P < 0.05). Snails were completely eliminated through one year of continuous monitoring, and no new snails were found after a flood disaster. This study demonstrates that engineering specifications for environmental modification were successfully established. Environmental modification, mainly through beach and ditch remediation, can completely change the environment of Oncomelania breeding. This method of environmental modification combined with mollusciciding was highly effective at eliminating snails.

The establishment of engineering specification for environmental modification to eliminate the schistosomiasis epidemic foci and verification of its effect.132